God Won.

Ok, ya'll (I'm not usually much of a ya'ller but it sounds much more sincere to me today than 'you guys'). Today was absolutely amazing. This week, Monday-Wednesday it was sunny and beautiful in Kansas City with temperatures above normal at 85 degrees. People were outside constantly, ice cream trucks drove by, flowers started blooming-basically, it was great, wonderful weather. Then came Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Rain, COLD temperatures, record breaking SNOW. IN. MAY.  My heart was struggling. Our big adoption garage sale fundraiser was this weekend and we seriously considered canceling. Friends had allowed us to use their house (in a much bigger and more well known neighborhood than ours) for our garage sale during their neighborhood garage sale weekend to ensure we got more traffic. Many families from our amazing church donated items to be sold to help raise money. I spent every spare minute this week organizing clothes and pricing some items and Derrick spent time organizing, pricing, and moving items to our friend's house. The neighborhood canceled their sales. We held out. On Friday, Derrick was there all day. He tried to organize and price things as best he could but we had far too much to fit in the garage and it was raining and snowing all day so he couldn't spread it out. But, one person came by. She found enough that she spent $55. Made the day worth it for sure! On Friday, I baked some cute Africa cookies (I bought the cookie cutter here) with hearts over Ethiopia. I was sure I'd be bringing them all home. But, I prayed the whole time. "God, I trust you. I really really do. Even if this goes awful. I trust you." Saturday we woke up to more rain and cold temperatures. We layered our clothes and left early to go buy a few more signs and get the sale set-up. It started raining harder on our way. I couldn't help but cry. It just felt like a joke. We felt so in God's will doing this. Every book, Bible study, or conversation we have had lately has completely reaffirmed this adoption is completely and totally where God wants us. But everywhere we have gone feels like there are financial road blocks. We really truly can't move forward without this. "God. Make this an 'only God' thing. Help me see I have nothing to do with this. The only way this sale will be successful today is because of you." We pulled up to the sale and our friends were up far too early on a Saturday morning with hot coffee helping us set up and organize. They got a tent put together for us to set up a bake sale and money collection while we did other things. The rain died down to a little mist. Still cold, but better. We moved some things outside and Rhonda came bearing TONS of baked goods to sell.  Friends came by with more to donate. We set up the bake sale tent and realized how much my mother-in-law baked for us to sell as well. "Thank you God. Thank you. Even if this is all that happens today, remind me how much our family and our new baby are loved." Then Rhonda and Crystal offhanded mentioned how they wanted to borrow the Africa cookie cutter for our baby shower and how excited they were to throw a shower for our baby and love on our baby. I almost burst into tears. "God. You are awesome. We are loved, prayed for, and supported. No amount of money will change that. Don't let me forget this feeling."

Amazingly enough, people started showing up. Not tons, but plenty. People had so many positive, supportive comments about adoption. There were many questions about Ethiopia, if we were going to have a boy or girl, how many trips to Africa we'd make, how old our baby will be, always (i mean always) followed up with comments about how great that was or how neat. Many people over paid for their items 'because that baby is worth it' or 'this is such a great cause'. "Oh my goodness God. You've outdone yourself. Thank you Thank you." Derrick's parents brought our kids up and they were so helpful. Our kids played great and had fun. "God thank you for the love of family. Thank you."

At lunch time there was a short lull. I looked at the money records for the first time that day and counted it up. We had made over $1,000 already. In the cold, nasty, misty, rainy day. I teared up. Rhonda teared up.  "God. This is only you. only you. Thank you thank you. Our baby IS going to come home. They will know how much they are loved. I will tell them about today over and over." I was sure the day was over. Our goal for a nice day was the amount for our USCIS fingerprints/paperwork: about $800. I never in my wildest dreams imagined we'd make that today, much less more than that. I was completely overwhelmed and didn't really think we'd have much more business. Then people kept coming. We sold another $200 worth of stuff. "God I am amazed. Help me not to cry in front of everyone, please." Friends that we haven't seen in a long time came by, people we barely knew went out of their way to stop by, a woman I used to work with came, friends from church came. Each and every person that came touched my heart today. I don't care if they didn't buy a thing or if they spent $100. I was amazed. I am amazed. We began to pack up and put everything back in the garage (we have so much left. I think we'll try again next weekend when it's hopefully nice out!) at 3:30pm and then two more families came. "God help me not to doubt you again. I am amazed. Only you, God. Only you." Then we came home and found a card from a dear friend in the mail encouraging us with a check for over $200 because they couldn't be here for the garage sale, they sold many of their things in consignment sales and sent us a check for the amount they made. Friends from far away (that I have never actually met in person) donated $100 through paypal today. "God. I don't even know how to say thank you. I don't even know. (cue tears. even now typing this)"

I am thankful to be desperate for God's love and His help. I am so amazingly thankful that we could not do this on our own. No amount of saving would get us there. We have to trust God to show Himself through those around us. It makes every single step a huge victory, for Him.Today, God put $1,660.75 into our adoption fund. Today, God filled my heart with more hope, love, and thankfulness than I can begin to describe. Today, I know our baby will be coming home in His perfect timing. Today, I know our baby will come home to a loving, welcoming community. Today, GOD WON. Even in the cold, the mist, and the doubt. God won. And I am blessed enough to have gotten to see it.